A massive thank you to our community. Our staff have been amazing in their ability to transition from face to face teaching, to teaching remotely. This is not an easy task and I thank them for this. Our students have been mature and positive in the transition in what must be a very confusing time for them. Our community of Parents and Carers have been supportive, caring and understanding of the situation and we are grateful for this. We have seen a decline in student attendance at school, which has allowed us extra time to prepare for Remote Learning, thank you for this support we appreciate it. We are only a phone call or email away, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you are confused about the direction we are headed with Remote Learning.

Don't forget to check out our Remote Learning Hub on our school website. It is full of important information and tips.

The St Anne's Long Lunch event raised $6012 for our school. The money will be spent on new furniture for our renovated classrooms. Thank you once again to Kris & Kylie Dunstan, Georgina Breust and Cindy Cassidy for their efforts in organising this great event. I am already looking forward to next year.

I had my fortnightly site meeting with the Architect and Builder on Thursday 27/3. It was great to walk around the building site and see the progress that has been made. See photos in this newsletter.

We will continue to send a newsletter during Remote Learning, however, it will be shorter in length. We will also try to host/hold some fun online events, but we are not sure yet how this will look.

The focus for the Gospel for last week, the 4th Sunday of Lent was Jesus heals the blind man. (John 9:1-41)

In the Gospel we read the story of Jesus’ healing of blind Bartimaeus. I have often wondered how his new visual senses might have overwhelmed him, allowing him to see the way the sunlight bounces and the colour of the sky and dusk. I am also reminded that Jesus is the one who forgives, who loves, who gives kindness, who sees our pain and turns the light of knowledge on for us. We are asked to follow Jesus – to be that one. Who needs healing in our lives today? How do we forgive, love, be kind, empathetic, compassionate and give sight to the blind, the ignorant, the deaf? St Thomas Aquinas tells us to shun ignorance. How do we confront ignorance and religious traditions that keep us imprisoned rather than liberated? How do we allow the hand of God to guide us in these uncertain times and trust that amidst all of this, He is with us? How do we be that one who reveals Jesus to others?

Our School Identity Statement for 2020 was selected well before this unexpected and uncertain time. Together we really have no option but to pull together as a community and support one another, together ‘courageous in our faith’. We have seen the many ways in which this community is being there for each other.

I have been overwhelmed by the amazing way in which our students have already adapted to the learning changes that have been implemented. They are a real credit to themselves and we are so impressed with how they have continued to focus on their learning and embraced each challenge set for them.

We are also very blessed to have such fantastic parents who are supportive of all of the measures which the staff are putting into place. You are all crucial to the way in which we navigate the changes in education and we would like to thank you most sincerely for this ongoing support to work together.

The staff have been united in their commitment and dedication to preparing for this transition. Focusing on supporting the children with their learning, maintaining a sense of routine and consistency and in caring for the student’s wellbeing, all of which have been paramount concerns for the staff. The collaborative efforts to consider all aspects of this transition have been immeasurable and as a community we are well placed to continuewith the education and formation of our precious students.

Take care and keep safe.

God Bless,

Jacqui Collins

Religious Education Coordinator

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A PRAYER AT A TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC (COVID 19)

ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHER PROWSE

CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF CANBERRA GOULBURN

Heavenly Father,

We praise and thank you for your loving presence, especially in the Lent/Easter season.

Here are some great pictures from our renovations. There has been pleasing progress over the last couple of weeks. Key activities under way on site:

New external stairs brick work started

Top floor internal walls demolished and new timber frames being put together

Electrical work roughed in

Data cables for IT roughed in

New windows are on their way

Minor works

Pictured below is the new safety measure we are putting in place on the internal stairs next to the Food Tech room. A strip like this (black instead of yellow) will be placed on the edge of the stairs to prevent a risk of slipping.

Catholic Schools NSW have decided to cancel any sporting events until the end of Week 3 Term 2.

In regards to Athletics the following scenarios may occur;

At this stage schools are unable to conduct school athletics carnivals

Depending on how long the restrictions are to occur we may not be able to run Regional Athletics carnivals either (At the moment none are to be held until after June 14th at this stage)

In the case that we are able to run Regional Carnivals schools will have to nominate up to 2 students from their school for each event (I know not ideal but if you go off your schoo'ls previous results it will give you an indication of who would make it through anyway)

In the case that we are not able to run Regional Carnivals and the restrictions are lifted in time we may be able to run a Diocesan event – The Diocesan event would be held as trials with qualifying times/distances and be only for talented athletes

In the event that we are unable to run a Diocesan trial – NSWCPS may hold a trial for talented athletes only

Some have predicted that the restrictions may be in place for up to six months which would mean all pathways will be cancelled.

I am sorry that I cannot give any real clear answers at this stage – it’s a bit of a waiting game to see if and when sporting restrictions are lifted.

On Friday 20/3 (Harmony Day), our school captains presented our outgoing Community Council Chair with a card and gift voucher for his dedication and time supporting the community of St Anne's. The students surprised Kris with a visit to his work place.